Railway-track construction.



No. 871.232. PATENTED Nov. 19, 1907. E. K. MORSE.

RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION. APLIoATIoH FILED 111111.14. 19'07.

INT1T ,YL-55:5; I vzplrua UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAILWAY-TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.'

yApplication led March 14. 1907. Serial No. 362.296.

`use of wooden or other forms of cross-ties by substituting therefor a construction which will provide sufficient resiliency or cushioning for the rails so as to be suitable for trains running at a high rate of speed and for heavy tralic.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a track construction as will tend to materially reduce the noise of the rolling stock thereon.

Another object is to provide a method and means of attaching the rails to their bed whereby a section of the track or a single rail may be rapidly and inexpensively removed and replaced with minimum interruption to traffic, and whereby quick and facile re-alinement of the track may be made.

A further object of my invention is to provide a practically smooth surface between the rails which may readily be kept clean.

My invention is especially adapted for use in rapid transit subways and tunnels, wherein the requirements peculiar to this class of construction correspond with the objects of this invention as `briefly set forth above.

In the subsequent description I will, therefore, describe my invention as particularly applied to rapid transit subways, it bein@r understood that I in no way limit myself to that particular application.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification: Figure 1 shows a perspective view vof a section of track constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed cross section thereof at one of the rails. Fig. 3 is a similar cross sec'- tionpassing through the middle of a pair of the rail supporting clamps. Fig. 4 is a side view of a rail showing a method of clamping; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a convenient form 0f the clamp member.

Referring again to the drawings for a detailed description of my invention: 1 represents the surface of the road bed, of concrete, or similar paving material, preferably linished smooth. Continuous channels 2 are formed in this road bed l and are finished with considerable nicety and precision to form a receptacle for the cushioning material or packing 3. This cushion I prefer to make of some fibrous material, possessing considerable toughness; asbestos or similar material being particularly well adapted for this purpose 2by reason of its capacity for manufacture into belts of great length with the suitable width and thickness so as to be readily laid in the said channels 2. Plates 4 are laid upon the cushion 3, forming a practically continuous cover for the cushioning material, and fit snugly in the channel 2 so as to prevent the squeezing of the cushioning material from out of the channel 2. T he r epth ofthe channel 2 is so proportioned that the cushioning material and its cover plates normally 'fill the said channel so that the surface of the plate 4 shall not, after final adjustment. be below the surface 1.

The rail 5 has its base-5iL resting longitudinally upon the plate 4 and it is also preferable that this base 5a be rather wider than vthe base of the present standard rails.

Angular clamp plates 6, which I have shown with a reinforcing web u forged therein but which may be of any other desirable construction, have openings b and 6C in the vertical and horizontal members thereof. These clamp plates 6 are adapted to be connected .in 1pairs with the web of the rail by suitable but I prefer to have these' openings 6c slotted as shown in Fig. 5 to afford more rapid and facile substitution of a new rail when necessity requires; or it would be probably preferable for this purpose to have the clamps 6 on the inner side of the rail provided with a hole with only su'llcient play for alinement and to have the clamp on the outer side of lthe rail provided with a slot so that in replacing a rail it would be only necessary to remove the nuts on the inner bolts and merely loosen those on the outer bolts, the clamps being already attached to the rail before setting in place.

Washer plates 1l, preferably slotted so that they may be readily slipped into or out of'place, are placed on the bolts 10 between the concrete surface and the horizontal member of the clamps 6. When the clamps 6 are bolted to the rail the horizontal member of the clamps 6 is somewhat above the Washer 11 and the tightening of the nuts 12 draws down the clamp plates 6 thereby compressing the cushioning material 3 and seating the rail firmly. Extra nuts 12a or other suitable nut locking means may be employed to secure the nuts 12.

If necessary, after the cushioning material has become packed down, the washer plates 1l may be slipped out and dispensed with or thinner ones substituted.

-Brieily stated the advantages of my improved construction of track are: the dispensing altogether with cross-ties and ballast a smooth surface between the rails which may be readily cleaned; a suificiently resilient rail bed to meet the requirements of high speed and heavy'ftraffic; a deadening of the noise, rapid alining and replacing of the rails 5 insurance against spreading of rails 3 and a durable and long-lived construction.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as novel and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States l. In a railway track, the combination with a flat concrete road bed surface having l parallel channels in said surface, of cushioning material in said channels, plates closing said channels and supported upon the cushioning material, rails resting upon and along said plates, and angle clamps attached to said rails and bolted to said concrete road bed, substantially as described.

2. In a railway track, the combination of a ilat concrete road bed having longitudinal channels, bolts fixed in said concrete road bed adjacent to said channels, rails mounted on cover plates snugly fitting in said channels, fibrous belting inclosed within said channels beneath said cover plates, and

slotted angle clamps attached to said rails and engaged by the aforesaid bolts, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a rail fastening, the combination with the rail, and bolts fixed in the road bed, of angle clamps adapted to be bolted to the web of the rail and having slots to engage the said fLxed bolts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN K. MORSE.

I/Vitnesses JOHN T. Amies, ROBT. F. DILwoRTH. 

